Back Check Part 29

Tanner nodded. "Thank you, Katie."

"For what?"

"For being here. For being my voice of reason. My home."

She beamed up at him, her eyes full of love. "We're here for each other. Right?"

"Right." He only hoped he could live up to her, to be as strong and solid as she was. He would spend the rest of his life trying to be the man she deserved.

Epilogue.

"Fornication."

Hesitant laughter t.i.ttered through the hotel ballroom as Duncan Armstrong started his speech. Katelyn, standing at the back of the ballroom, set her fingers over her own smile.

"Ahem. Excuse me." Duncan picked up a gla.s.s of water and drank. "Sorry, I'm a bit nervous." He bent his head to his notes and started again. "For an occasion like this..." He paused as louder laughter filled the room, and he grinned. A few people clapped and he nodded. "For an occasion like this, it's a tradition to roast the groom on his special day. But I don't want to do that to my friend Marc, so I've left out all the embarra.s.sing and negative things I could say about him and will only talk about his good points. Thank you and good night."

He moved to sit down and more laughter erupted.

Duncan moved back to the microphone. "Kidding. I'm kidding. I have a lot of great things to say about Marc tonight." He paused. "In everyone's life, there comes that moment when you meet the love of your life. Your one true love. The person who'll be there for you no matter what. Your soul mate." He paused, and Katelyn's gaze shifted along the table to where Tanner sat, looking gorgeous in his black tux. Her soul mate. "That moment came for Marc eight years ago when he met me."

More laughter. She grinned. Duncan had been so nervous, but he was killing it with his best man speech, which she happened to know Tanner had helped him write.

"For those who don't know me, I'm Duncan Armstrong and I'm the best man here tonight. I mean, I'm Marc's best man." He smiled. "Another tradition is that at a wedding, n.o.body should look more handsome than the groom. There was nothing much I could do, other than maybe wear a bag on my head, but I'd like to thank the other groomsmen for doing such a great job." He paused for more laughter, looking a little more relaxed.

Katelyn's gaze shifted back to Tanner and he met her eyes across the ballroom. She smiled.

"I have to say, I never thought I'd be standing up here, my best friend married to my little sister. In all honesty, when Lovey and Marc first got together, I was worried. I actually thought Lovey wasn't good enough for Marc. But Lovey...you're a beautiful and amazing woman who deserves a wonderful husband. And I won't rest until I get to the bottom of what's gone wrong here."

Lovey laughed, looking so beautiful and happy it made Katelyn's heart squeeze.

Duncan's speech went on, moving from jokes and funny stories to a more serious tone. "Seriously, Marc is a great man-a skilled hockey player. A leader. A loyal team member who's responsible and dedicated to his sport and his team. And I know that he'll show that exact same dedication and loyalty to my sister, his bride. I'm happy to not only call him my captain...and my friend...but also now my brother-in-law."

Katelyn clasped her hands in front of her and smiled.

She'd made it through the most challenging parts of the day. Things had mostly gone off without incident. Of course, there had to be pranks. Hockey players loved their pranks.

The groomsmen had somehow gotten hold of a tux identical to Marc's, only two sizes smaller; they'd switched it with his in the suite at the Peninsula where the men were getting ready for the wedding. Marc had freaked out when he tried to get dressed and nothing fit. Meanwhile they were all cracking up.

But Marc had a prank of his own up his sleeve. He'd stolen all the men's black socks and replaced them with brightly colored ones in stripes, polka dots, and argyle patterns. And they'd all worn them. The photographer had gotten a great shot of them with their pants legs pulled up to show off the crazy socks.

The groomsmen were handsome in their black tuxes, the small orange boutonnieres matching the bouquets of orange and cream roses, freesias, and pale green hydrangeas. The bridesmaids looked stunning in shimmery apricot gowns-including Randi, for whom a late dress change had been necessary because she was now four months pregnant. They'd had a bit of a scramble at that (happy) news, but Katelyn had handled it.

And of course Lovey was gorgeous. There'd been emotional moments with tears, a little stress when the officiate had called her Lovina repeatedly, even though she'd clearly told him she wanted him to use "Lovey." She'd turned to give Katelyn a "what the f.u.c.k?" look, then shrugged and continued.

The ceremony had been beautiful. The reception was moving along perfectly. The tall flower arrangements on each table complemented the bouquets perfectly, with smaller vases and candles glowing amid sparkling gla.s.s and cutlery. A few of them had burned out and Katelyn had quickly made replacements with the spares she'd stocked. The lights of downtown buildings were starting to glitter in the June dusk through the big windows, and the overhead chandeliers cast a perfect glow on the ballroom.

They'd had one unexpected meal issue with a guest who hadn't let them know that she was vegan, but Katelyn had tactfully and hastily arranged a last-minute meal replacement with the hotel's wedding director.

And another good thing that had come of this...the wedding director at the hotel had turned out to be a lovely woman with whom Katelyn had really clicked, and who had now made three referrals to Katelyn for other weddings. Yay!

Soon, Tanner's duties would be done and they could spend a few minutes together.

The time for the first dance arrived and the bride and groom stepped onto the dance floor. They smiled into each other's eyes as Michael Buble sang "Everything."

Emotion rose in Katelyn's throat and she touched a fingertip to a tear at the corner of her waterproof-mascaraed eye.

It wasn't a surprise to her, but it was to the guests when the music stopped and the bride and groom stepped apart. She grinned.

A new song started, the quick rhythm leading to "Baby Got Back" by Sir Mix-a-Lot.

The crowd roared as Lovey and Marc started a dance, Lovey's rap moves in her floaty, shimmering dress impressive.

Katelyn couldn't help bopping to the catchy rhythm from her place at the back of the ballroom, smiling as the newly married couple shook their booties. When the song called "Fellas!" the groomsmen all shouted back, and when the song called "Ladies!" the bridesmaids did the same, eventually all of them joining the bride and groom on the dance floor, shaking it.

Katelyn knew this was what Lovey had wanted-pure fun and joy and celebration, however untraditional.

The music changed again, to a slower dance song, and the wedding party paired up, Tanner dancing with Amber. When that ended, Tanner left the dance floor and headed toward Katelyn.

She smiled at him. "Hi. Thanks for coming."

He rolled his eyes. "As if I wouldn't show up."

"It hasn't been so bad, has it?"

She knew his dislike of weddings, his belief that marriages all ended in divorce. He'd not only showed up, he'd helped out with a smile on his face and supported Marc and Lovey and the nervous best man.

"Not so bad."

"Is this the best wedding in the world, or what?" She grinned at him.

He laughed. "Maybe. Hey, come meet a friend of mine, he's not going to be staying long." He took her hand and led her across the ballroom to another table where some of the Aces players sat. She'd met most of them, but not the tall, lean man who rose as Tanner approached.

"Hey, Hallsy. This is my girlfriend, Katelyn. Katelyn, Max Hall."

She smiled and shook Max's hand. Although she hadn't met him, she knew his story...his young wife had pa.s.sed away just over a year ago and he hadn't played hockey since. "Nice to meet you."

"So you're coming back in the fall?" Tanner said to Max.

"Yeah. That's the plan."

"That's so good. We need you."

Max smiled, though his eyes held shadows. "Hopefully I can keep up with you."

"I heard you're working out with Jake at Elite Sports."

"Yeah. They're kicking my a.s.s."

Tanner grinned. "Good."

They made a little more small talk, then Tanner's head jerked around as the music changed. "Excuse us," he said to Max, then turned to Katelyn. "Dance with me, beautiful lady."

"Sure." She smiled at Max as Tanner took her hand.

He led her onto the dance floor. She stared at him as the familiar strumming of the intro to "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz started. Wow...memories. How many times had she and Tanner danced to this song in college?

"I love this song," she said, wide-eyed.

"I know." He set his hands on her waist and they moved to the music. He smiled. "I remember."

She gazed up at him as the bouncy tune played. He twirled her in a little spin, bringing her back in tight against him. Joy bubbled in her chest, bright and beautiful. "I love you."

"Love you too, beautiful."

Their gazes stayed fastened on each other throughout the song. As the song drew to an end, Tanner said to her, "This isn't the best wedding in the world."

She blinked. "No?"

"No. Our wedding will be the best wedding in the world." And he dropped to one knee on the dance floor. "I'm yours. Will you be mine, Katelyn? Will you marry me?"

He held out a ring that flashed in the low lights.

Everyone around them had stopped and was watching. Katelyn's heart pitched into an unsteady rhythm and her entire body trembled. She cupped her hands over her mouth as she stared down at Tanner in shock. Pressure swelled in her chest and her face, behind her eyes, her nose stinging.

"Yes," she whispered. "Oh my G.o.d, Tanner. Yes."

Whoops and clapping filled the ballroom. Tanner rose and slipped the ring onto her shaking hand. She stared at it through a blur of tears. "It's beautiful."

Tanner's friends swarmed around him to slap him on the back and congratulate him.

"I hate to say I told you so," Marc said, his arm around Tanner's shoulders shaking him. "Aw, who am I kidding. I f.u.c.king love to say I told you so."

Tanner grinned. "Yeah, for once I don't mind hearing it. Okay, you were right, Captain Codger. Life without love is pretty lonely."

Katelyn too was swarmed by Lovey and Amber and Lovey's friends.

"I'm so sorry," she said to Lovey as they hugged. "I had no idea he was going to do this at your wedding."

"Don't apologize! I knew about it. He asked me if it would be okay, and he wanted that song played."

Katelyn shook her head, smiling through her tears. "Oh wow."

"We're so happy for you," Lovey added, beaming. "It made our day even more special."

Katelyn hugged her new friend, then Tanner pulled her back into his arms and laid a huge kiss on her, bending her back over his arm. She came up laughing and breathless to clapping and cheers. She smiled at the man she loved. His new seven-year contract with the Aces was nice security-even so, nothing was guaranteed, and she understood that. But whatever happened, wherever they ended up, they'd be together, there for each other, for better or for worse, through stupidity and pride, injury or illness, joy and laughter...to love and to cherish...always.

To my readers-I love to share my stories with you. I also love to share my pa.s.sion for hockey along with the pa.s.sion of two people falling in love. Thank you so much for buying and reading my books-I am forever grateful!

Acknowledgments.

As always, a huge thank-you to the team at Loveswept for getting my hockey books out into the world!

Aces Roster

GOALIES.

31.

Oleg Boyarov (Boyar)